In silico identification, design and synthesis of novel piperazine-based antiviral agents targeting the hepatitis C virus helicase

Abstract

A structure-based virtual screening of commercial compounds was carried out on the HCV NS3 helicase structure, with the aim to identify novel inhibitors of HCV replication. Among a selection of 13 commercial structures, one compound was found to inhibit the subgenomic HCV replicon in the low micromolar range. Different series of new piperazine-based analogues were designed and synthesised, and among them, several novel structures exhibited antiviral activity in the HCV replicon assay. Some of the new compounds were also found to inhibit HCV NS3 helicase function in vitro, and one directly bound NS3 with a dissociation constant of 570 ± 270 nM.

Keywords: Anti-HCV activity; HCV NS3-helicase; NS3 helicase inhibitors; Piperazine derivatives; Structure-based virtual screening.